TOP SECRET
8.
Constitution
Hong Kong is a Crown Colony administered by a Governor who is assisted by entirely nominated Executive and Legislative
Councils over which the Governor presides.
9.
The Governor is required to consult with the Executive
Council, save where matters are unimportant or too urgent. He
may act contrary to the advice given by the Council, but, in
such cases, must report fully to the Secretary of State.
10. The power to legislate rests with the Governor "by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council". There
are the usual reservations to the Crown of the power of
disallowance and the power to legislate, with the advice of the Privy Council, "for the peace, order and good government of the
Culony".
11.
Because we hold the major part of the Colony on lease and because China regards the whole Colony as Chinese territory to be taken back in due course, we are precluded from treating it as a candidate for self-government or independence. We are inhibited from developing representative institutions by the danger that any politics in Hong Kong would be the politics of the two Chinas and that a determined communist minority in a generally apathetic electorate would engineer control of such institutions. There is a widespread awareness of these problems, both within and outside Hong Kong; but the form of government prescribed for this thriving and progressive community does stand out as a startling anomaly in our post-war record of colonial administration. There is at present no widespread demand for constitutional changes, most recognising the dangers and difficulties of the situation; and we have met little international criticism even in the United Nations (most of the criticism has been from within this country).
TOP SECRET
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.